Reversing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Decline in Tanzania: Policy Options and Constraints

Pharmaceutical production has been a Tanzanian industrial success, generating skills and employment and access to essential medicines

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
14 July 2014
Country:
Tanzania
Document Type:
Briefing
Theme:
Economic Growth
Authors:
Wangwe, S, Tibandebage, P, Mhede, E, Israel, C, Mujinja, P, Mackintosh, M

Abstract

The key messages in this policy brief:

  • Pharmaceutical production has been a Tanzanian industrial success, generating industrial skills and employment and sustaining access to essential medicines for the Tanzanian population, especially in rural areas.

  • Tanzania now risks accelerated loss of this key industrial sector, under interacting pressures from external competition, requirements to upgrade technology, unsupportive procurement and tax frameworks, and problems of probity and management oversight.

  • Loss of the local pharmaceutical industry threatens security and flexibility in supply of essential medicines, contributes to industrial decline, and adds to the trade deficit.

  • Policies to reverse decline exist; they require “joined up” government action on tax and trade policies, procurement policies, and targeted business support, plus active government collaboration with manufacturers.

This is an output of the Development and Economic Growth Research Programme (DEGRP)

Citation

Wangwe, Samuel, Tibandebage, Paula, Mhede, Edwin, Israel, Caroline, Mujinja, Phares, Mackintosh, Maureen. (2014). Reversing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Decline in Tanzania: Policy Options and Constraints. REPOA Brief No.45

Reversing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Decline in Tanzania: Policy Options and Constraints (PDF, 252KB)

Published 14 July 2014
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